FAQs About Arizona Divorce

If you are considering filing for divorce in Arizona, you likely have questions about the process and what you can expect moving forward. The following Arizona divorce FAQs can provide you with some insight as to what the divorce process entails.

If, however, you are ready for some more specific answers and professional advice regarding how to proceed, it’s time to contact trusted Scottsdale Divorce Attorney Karen A. Schoenau

Q – Can I File for an Arizona Fivorce?

A – You can file for an Arizona divorce as long as:

You (or your partner) has lived in the state of Arizona for at least 90 days.

You believe that your marriage is irretrievably broken (i.e., there is no hope of reconciliation).

Q – How Will Marital Property be Divided in my Divorce?

A – It depends on whether you and your partner can agree on how your marital property should be divided. If you can come to an agreement regarding the division of your marital property, then you can submit a Consent Decree of Dissolution of Marriage to the court. Family court judges will generally uphold/approve agreements that divorcing partners reach on their own.

If, however, you and your partner cannot agree on how your marital property is to be divided:

Your divorce will have to proceed to trial (if not mediation before trial).

It will likely be left up to a family court judge to make the final decisions regarding how your marital property is to be divided between you and your soon-to-be-ex-partner.

Q – How Will Custody be Decided in my Divorce?

A – Again, this will depend on whether you and your partner can agree to or are in a dispute about custody (and related issues like, for instance, child support). In the event that you and your partner cannot agree on any custody issues, the court will again step in to rule on these matters, and the primary factor that will guide a judge’s decisions regarding custody will be what is in the child’s best interests.

Q – How Long Will it Take to Resolve my Arizona Divorce?

A – There is no quick and immediate answer to this question without first reviewing the facts of your divorce case. That being stated, however, here’s what we can tell you about the duration of divorce cases:

When divorcing partners can communicate with each other and/or are willing to compromise, Arizona divorce cases can be resolved sooner.

When divorcing partners do not share children and/or have minimal marital assets, there can be faster resolutions to divorce cases.

Working with an experienced divorce lawyer – regardless of the specific issues you may facing in your impending divorce – can help you efficiently resolve your case while achieving better resolutions than if you didn’t work with a lawyer.

Q – How Much Will my Arizona Divorce Cost me?

A – The cost of your Arizona divorce will depend on a lot of different factors, only some of which can include:

The county in which you file for and proceed with your divorce case – Different courts have different filing fees, and these can change from year to year. For instance, as of January 2015, the cost of submitting a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage in Maricopa County was $338.

How long your divorce takes to resolve – If your divorce case drags on for months or longer, the costs of resolving your case will likely increase. In contrast, divorce cases that can be resolved relatively quickly tend to cost less.

Whether you retain an attorney to represent you in your divorce – Although hiring an attorney to represent you can come with some initial costs, in the long run, it can save you a significant amount of time, money and stress, as an experienced lawyer can help you resolve your divorce as efficiently and favorably as possible.

Q – Do I Need an Attorney for my Arizona Divorce?

A – If you are serious about protecting your interests and favorably resolving your divorce case, then yes – it’s strongly advised you retain an attorney to help you navigate the complexities of the legal process, advocate your rights and work out the best possible resolution to your divorce case.

Scottsdale Divorce Attorney at the Law Office of Karen A. Schoenau

Do you need help with any aspect of your divorce? If so, you can trust Scottsdale Divorce Attorney Karen Schoenau for honest answers, effective representation and the best possible outcomes to your case.

To learn more about how Karen Schoenau can help you, schedule an initial consultation with her today. You can set up this meeting by calling 480-209-1918 or by emailing us using the contact form.

From her offices based on Scottsdale, Attorney Karen Schoenau represents clients throughout the metropolitan Phoenix area and the state of Arizona, including in Scottsdale, Mesa, Surprise, Maricopa County, Pinal County, and Gila County.

Karen is highly respected in the legal community. She is effective and thorough. Karen just keeps going regardless of the odds. Steve C.

★★★★★

Karen was extremely helpful setting up my petition for conciliation. She is by far the most knowledgeable attorney regarding the necessary paperwork, how to file the petition and where it has to be submitted. She listened intently when I was describing my situation and intentions. She was very responsive to my questions and request. She is trustworthy and diligent . I would recommend her to anyone having marital issues. Mark

★★★★★

Very high customer/client considerate. We found Karen when we were forced to leave another Phoenix lawyer due to his bad advice and lack of interest to help us. We were in Phoenix for six days from Michigan with nothing happening but a high wasted expense. Karen and her firm took us in and solved our issue with the courts etc. in two and a half days. Karen’s professionalism with us was very cost effective/productive. If we would have found her first, we would have saved thousands of dollars. Her interest for us was very high. She returned every call. She knew every answer to our questions. She did this for us with a death in her family. She left for a funeral and made sure we were treated with the same professionalism from her firm to finish up. I recommend Karen and her firm with very high satisfaction. Our case is custody with one parent in prison. We will return to Phoenix someday with interests for the child and his parent, if needed. Karen will be our top choice. Nolan

★★★★★

Karen and Bonita are wonderful!! I know that the word "wonderful" is used a lot, but the team they make and the work they did for me can only be described as WONDERFUL!! Yes there where ups and downs in my case, but that is the system and Karen along with Bonita guided and taught me as "WE" went through it together. Karen’s easy going manner and her knowledge really helped me with the emotional part of my divorce. I used the team of Karen and Bonita both times I needed to go to court with my ex and had results that were best for my little girl. Some times I did not get what I wanted, but it was what my daughter needed. Looking back at my case, I made the right choice and would do it again in a heart beat!! Jim

★★★★★

Karen was extremely supportive during a very trying time in our lives. She helped me to put things in perspective and think positive when I was overwhelmed. She is very knowledgeable about the laws pertaining to grandparents rights and the rights of the parents and knew how to provide the appropriate laws pertaining to the situation we were in. I am so grateful for her expertise and guidance. She proved to be very aggressive when she needed to be but was also supportive to my and my children. I would recommend her to anyone in a similar situation. Deanna

We serve clients throughout Arizona including those in the following localities: Maricopa County including Avondale, Buckeye, Cave Creek, Chandler, El Mirage, Fountain Hills, Gilbert, Glendale, Goodyear, Mesa, New River, Paradise Valley, Peoria, Phoenix, Queen Creek, Scottsdale, Sun City, Sun City West, Surprise, and Tempe; Gila County including Globe; La Paz County including Parker; Pima County including Tucson; and Yuma County including Yuma.